Lely is a

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...

(CDP) in Collier County,

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

, United States. The population was 3,694 at the 2020 census, up from 3,451 at the 2010 census. It is part of the

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

–

Marco Island Marco may refer to: People Given name * Marco (actor) (born 1977), South Korean model and actor Surname * Georg Marco (1863–1923), Romanian chess player of German origin * Jindřich Marco (1921–2000), Czechoslovak photographer and numismat ...

Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Lely, Florida, was established as a small community in western Collier County, initially serving as a

residential area A residential area is a land used in which housing predominates, as opposed to industrial and commercial areas. Housing may vary significantly between, and through, residential areas. These include single-family housing, multi-family residen ...

within the expanding Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area. Originally developed in the mid-20th century, Lely’s early growth was closely tied to nearby agricultural and forestry operations. Over the years, the community expanded as areas such as Lely Resort and other residential developments attracted retirees and seasonal residents, particularly in the latter half of the 20th century. The construction of U.S. Route 41 and the community’s proximity to downtown Naples contributed to Lely’s development as a suburban area. In the 1990s, Lely experienced increased residential growth, with many families and retirees settling in the area due to its convenient access to Naples' amenities, including golf courses, beaches, and cultural attractions. Lely’s growth in the 21st century has been marked by various infrastructure projects, including the establishment of the Lely Community Development District. The district has helped manage local services and supported continued residential expansion. The community’s population growth has continued into the 2000s and 2010s, with a 7% increase reported between the 2010 and 2020 census.https://www.lelycdd.com/

Geography

Lely is located in western Collier County at (26.102802, -81.733125). It is bordered on the southwest by

U.S. Route 41 U.S. Route 41, also U.S. Highway 41 (US 41), is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs from Miami, Florida, to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miam ...

, on the south by Naples Manor, and on the southeast by Lely Resort. Downtown

is to the northwest on U.S. 41. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the Lely CDP has a total area of , of which is land and , or 7.04%, is water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,694 people, 1,795 households, and 1,030 families residing in the CDP.

2000 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, there were 3,857 people, 2,037 households, and 1,179 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 2,641 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.41%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 0.70%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.16% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.91% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 3.71% of the population. There were 2,037 households, out of which 8.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 26.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.82 and the average family size was 2.33. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 8.1% under the age of 18, 2.8% from 18 to 24, 13.1% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 50.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 65 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,170, and the median income for a family was $57,361. Males had a median income of $40,719 versus $31,139 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the CDP was $32,430. About 5.1% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

References

{{authority control Census-designated places in Collier County, Florida Census-designated places in Florida